North Melbourne to target star midfielder in off-season, put first-round draft pick on table

NORTH Melbourne says its first-round pick is officially on the trade table with a star midfielder in the club’s sights to further enhance the Kangaroos’ lightning fast rebuild.

Jordan de Goey in action for Collingwood against Brisbane.

NORTH Melbourne says its first-round pick is officially on the trade table, adamant it has again become a destination club.

The Roos are only a game out of the top four with a 4-3 record, desperate to knock off ladder leaders Richmond on Sunday.

Last year despite a huge war chest they were unable to secure either of Richmond’s Dustin Martin or GWS star Josh Kelly, in part because they were not in the premiership window.

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But North Melbourne chief executive Carl Dilena told the Herald Sun the Roos were back in the game.

Rival free agents include Andrew Gaff, Luke Dahlhaus and Rory Sloane, while Josh Thomas, Jordan De Goey, Ollie Wines and Angus Brayshaw are quality midfielders out of contract.

Collingwood half forward De Goey is in the form of his short career, and has already drawn interest from multiple clubs despite putting off talks until mid-year.

Jordan De Goey in action against Brisbane.

Andrew Gaff in action against Carlton.

Not only are the Roos youngsters coming on, the club has a strong record of helping the likes of recruits Jarrad Waite, Nick Dal Santo and Shaun Higgins play their best football.

Dilena said all options were on the table regarding the club’s picks, with the Roos certain to secure Tasmanian academy midfielder Tarryn Thomas.

At the weekend, Thomas peeled off a 28-possession, two-goal 189-ranking point game against the Sydney academy to roar into contention as top three draft pick.

The Kangaroos could trade off their first pick for a star midfielder then use later picks or even next year’s draft selections to match the points needed for Thomas.

Thomas is a goalkicking midfielder who can immediately slot into the Roos midfield.

“If you look at where the team is performing at the moment and how we would throw some extra talent into the mix, we are going to be right up there,” Dilena said.

“We do see ourselves as the kind of club which would be attractive to anyone coming in.

“Our list has some pretty good players but how do we add that extra talent to keep our team up the top of the ladder?

North Melbourne players celebrate the win over Sydney.

“That was the case last year and it will be the case again this year and it naturally helps if you are playing good footy.”

“You become attractive to other players that might be looking at us from other clubs.

Dilena confirmed last week’s report that the Roos were interested in midfielders rather than West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern.

“I think if you have a look at what our focus was last year, it’s developing added depth and flexibility in the midfield.”

“I think you have to look at all options,” Dilena said of the club’s potential to trade its first pick.

“Free agency can be cheap in quotation marks because you only have to give up money but if you are at the trade table and are going to be serious about it you have to give up something of value to get something back so we recognise that.”

De Goey’s manager Ben Niall told the Herald Sun on Anzac Day his client wanted to knuckle down and concentrate on footy rather than contract talks.

Tarryn Thomas in action for North Launceston. Picture: Chris Kidd

But there is no doubt enough clubs will pay De Goey on his huge potential that the Pies will have to hand him a sizeable deal to retain him.

“We are not entering any conversations. We are putting everything off until at least mid-year and maybe until the end of the year,” Niall said.

“The more good footy he plays the more confidence people (at Collingwood) will have in his sustained behavioural change and those talents translating to production.

Dilena said the Roos believed in principle father-son selection should trump academy picks after boom teen Nick Blakey chose Sydney over the Roos last week.

His father John Blakey has been at Sydney as a long-term assistant coach, giving the Swans the whip hand to secure the 196cm midfielder-forward.

“We had a bit of a discussion about that. Sometimes you think for the history and legacy of the game, there is a sense the father-son stuff should be a little bit protected and have priority.

“Father-sons were there first and maybe they should take priority. But I don’t think we will die in a ditch over it.”

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